News

Earth bank to protect flood-hit Somerset village

AN earth bank will be built to protect homes in one of the villages in Somerset worst affected by the winter floods.

The ring bank flood protection scheme planned for Thorney is part of the 20-year Flood Action Plan for Somerset.

The Parrett Drainage Board will build the bank west of the village; it will improve flood protection for around ten homes and the nearest road.

John Osman, Somerset County Council leader and chairman of the FAP Leaders Implementation Group, said: “The proposal for a ring bank at Thorney is well supported locally so I am delighted to see it moving forward. No single piece of work can solve the problem of flooding on the Levels on its own, but all together they can make a difference.”

The cost of the scheme is not yet known, but it will be paid for through local and national grants, with the FAP Programme Board paying any extras necessary.

Comments (1)

I'm pleased to read that some form of Defence is to be Constructed In an attempt to keep excess Fluvial water from devestating the Village of Muchelney. But, the more serious question is, just how much work is being done to Make the Capacity of the Rivers Parrett and Tone back to its Pre-1960 volumes. I like many here in Somerset agree with what is needed to be done on the whole, it is just how that Preventative work against future Flooding is Delivered ??!!!. We see the Excavators working away on the Banks of the Parrett, scrapping the Silt/ Clay mud Built up over the Last 10+ years! what we are not seeing is the lower deposits down into the Basin of the River removed, to enable greater Volume. Also, we are told that this will be partial dredging, ?? Not the entire length, as Has been Called for by Cllr Tony Bradford, Chairman of the Internal Drainage Board, Neil Parish, etc, when I listened @ Midnight one evening whilst away at a wine Show in London when BBC Parliament Showed the February Commons Select Commitee Report, for 1 1/2 hrs.
The River Parrett needs to be totally dredged from its Mouth @ BOS through to Langport, and not only once, but as and when needed, as a preventative measure rather than allowing Devestating Flooding, and then doing remedial work.
The Spillway, which was lowered, needs to be put back to its pre 2012-13 levels.
What occurred over this last 2 Winters must not happen a Third year, pumps must be brought in b4 river capacities threaten Communities, the Consortium of Drainage Boards MUST have a greater Say into what solutions are required, the E Agency, must take a step back, take responsibility for the Last 2 years devastation.
Only by careful planned Pre-Ventative Actions, can I see there not being a re-occurance this coming November-March 2013/14.
THIS must NOT be allowed to happen again.
I have been warning and asking for answers to this problem for over 8 years as an Elected Sedgemoor Councillor @ the time, only to be Fobbed of with, you know nothing ,we are the Experts , we the Environmemnt Agency know Best, Well they Fuuked Up Big Time. !!!
The Nub of the problem, is as I see it. Is to get the Excess rain fall water of the Levels and Moors ASAP, with Water Management, to channel the water into the Stowey, and into the King Sedgemoor Drain ...........Thus keeping the Capacities in the Parrett and Tone @ Managable levels, to allow on the Ebb Tide excess water to be channelled / Pumped into them to flow out to the Bristol Channel, it is not Rocket Science. ???
Water Management, with Strategically Placed Dutch Pumps, put in place at the Beginning, not delayed for 6 Weeks as is the report I heard, this year, they were offered but declined, ?? True or not ??? Us mere mortals will not be made aware, unless the Press request it under Freedom of Info Act Legislation .
This 20 year plan, is All well and good, but too long winded :
Years 1-3 : Dredge the R Parrett, make Permanment Bases for the Pumps.plan to build the R. Parrett Sluice, and Impliment within 2-3 Years.
( With if feasible a road alongside or on top to act S a Hinkley C New Nuclear bypass to Combwich.)
Re-dredge the Parrett as and where silt has redepositted itself, ensure that the Banks are topped to prevent overflow/ breaches in Exceptional Tides, combined with heavy rainfalls and be again Pre-Emptive , rather than re-Active in the approach.
There is no point spending xx£ Millions of Pounds raising the Othery/Aller to Taunton A 361 if you manage the Water efficiently, this has only occurred in recent years because of Mis management by the Environment Agency, doggedly following a Plan of their own making, using essential £33Million to create a Bird Wetlands to appease the Bloody Europeans, surely the residents is Somerset, on the Levels and
Moors need protection, the birds will fly to higher ground always.

If flooding occurs this winter, I will be leading the Next " Rebellion" in Somerset, heads will roll, I can assure you as enough is enough !!!!
The Longer it takes Cllr Jon Osman to answer my Letter to him and Deputy Leader Cllr David Hall, the more difficult I will be, by keeping on pressing the Issues, that need Addressing.it is now mid-way through June, Six months, that's how they treat with Contempt, anyone who asks for explanation of Policies, re Flood, Highways EDF C routes and Tweeking Thwir Terminology for the alterations through our Town of Bridgwater.
David L Preece Former SDC /BT Councillor
Blue-Owl
davidpreece2@aol.co.
uk

I'm pleased to read that some form of Defence is to be Constructed In an attempt to keep excess Fluvial water from devestating the Village of Muchelney. But, the more serious question is, just how much work is being done to Make the Capacity of the Rivers Parrett and Tone back to its Pre-1960 volumes. I like many here in Somerset agree with what is needed to be done on the whole, it is just how that Preventative work against future Flooding is Delivered ??!!!. We see the Excavators working away on the Banks of the Parrett, scrapping the Silt/ Clay mud Built up over the Last 10+ years! what we are not seeing is the lower deposits down into the Basin of the River removed, to enable greater Volume. Also, we are told that this will be partial dredging, ?? Not the entire length, as Has been Called for by Cllr Tony Bradford, Chairman of the Internal Drainage Board, Neil Parish, etc, when I listened @ Midnight one evening whilst away at a wine Show in London when BBC Parliament Showed the February Commons Select Commitee Report, for 1 1/2 hrs.
The River Parrett needs to be totally dredged from its Mouth @ BOS through to Langport, and not only once, but as and when needed, as a preventative measure rather than allowing Devestating Flooding, and then doing remedial work.
The Spillway, which was lowered, needs to be put back to its pre 2012-13 levels.
What occurred over this last 2 Winters must not happen a Third year, pumps must be brought in b4 river capacities threaten Communities, the Consortium of Drainage Boards MUST have a greater Say into what solutions are required, the E Agency, must take a step back, take responsibility for the Last 2 years devastation.
Only by careful planned Pre-Ventative Actions, can I see there not being a re-occurance this coming November-March 2013/14.
THIS must NOT be allowed to happen again.
I have been warning and asking for answers to this problem for over 8 years as an Elected Sedgemoor Councillor @ the time, only to be Fobbed of with, you know nothing ,we are the Experts , we the Environmemnt Agency know Best, Well they Fuuked Up Big Time. !!!
The Nub of the problem, is as I see it. Is to get the Excess rain fall water of the Levels and Moors ASAP, with Water Management, to channel the water into the Stowey, and into the King Sedgemoor Drain ...........Thus keeping the Capacities in the Parrett and Tone @ Managable levels, to allow on the Ebb Tide excess water to be channelled / Pumped into them to flow out to the Bristol Channel, it is not Rocket Science. ???
Water Management, with Strategically Placed Dutch Pumps, put in place at the Beginning, not delayed for 6 Weeks as is the report I heard, this year, they were offered but declined, ?? True or not ??? Us mere mortals will not be made aware, unless the Press request it under Freedom of Info Act Legislation .
This 20 year plan, is All well and good, but too long winded :
Years 1-3 : Dredge the R Parrett, make Permanment Bases for the Pumps.plan to build the R. Parrett Sluice, and Impliment within 2-3 Years.
( With if feasible a road alongside or on top to act S a Hinkley C New Nuclear bypass to Combwich.)
Re-dredge the Parrett as and where silt has redepositted itself, ensure that the Banks are topped to prevent overflow/ breaches in Exceptional Tides, combined with heavy rainfalls and be again Pre-Emptive , rather than re-Active in the approach.
There is no point spending xx£ Millions of Pounds raising the Othery/Aller to Taunton A 361 if you manage the Water efficiently, this has only occurred in recent years because of Mis management by the Environment Agency, doggedly following a Plan of their own making, using essential £33Million to create a Bird Wetlands to appease the Bloody Europeans, surely the residents is Somerset, on the Levels and
Moors need protection, the birds will fly to higher ground always.
If flooding occurs this winter, I will be leading the Next " Rebellion" in Somerset, heads will roll, I can assure you as enough is enough !!!!
The Longer it takes Cllr Jon Osman to answer my Letter to him and Deputy Leader Cllr David Hall, the more difficult I will be, by keeping on pressing the Issues, that need Addressing.it is now mid-way through June, Six months, that's how they treat with Contempt, anyone who asks for explanation of Policies, re Flood, Highways EDF C routes and Tweeking Thwir Terminology for the alterations through our Town of Bridgwater.
David L Preece Former SDC /BT Councillor
Blue-Owl
davidpreece2@aol.co.
ukBlue Owl